As the caravan entered the bustling Merchant District, the noise of the marketpce grew louder—merchants shouting their wares, the clink of coins, and the steady hum of commerce filling the air. The adventurers led the group to a rge, ornate building that stood as the central hub for merchant transactions. The head merchant, a portly man with a sharp eye for business, stepped forward, producing a ledger and quill.

  After a few brief exchanges and the signing of papers, the merchant turned to the adventurer group. “That concludes your contract. You’ve done well,” he said with a polite nod. His gaze then shifted to Yuki, and his expression softened slightly, a rare sight for someone accustomed to negotiations.

  “I owe you my thanks, Miss Yuki,” he said, bowing slightly. Yuki, standing apart from the group with her usual detached air, responded with a faint hum of acknowledgment, her violet eyes unreadable.

  The merchant chuckled softly, seemingly unbothered by her reserved demeanor. Reaching into his pack, he produced a small, ornate tome bound in faded leather. Intricate symbols of power glowed faintly along its spine. “This is a legacy skill book,” he expined, handing it to her with both hands, as if offering a treasure. “It’s not much for someone of your power and influence, but it might prove useful.”

  Yuki took the book carefully, her fingers brushing against the worn leather. The faint energy radiating from it sent a subtle hum through her body. She gave the merchant a small nod, her expression still guarded.

  “And one more thing,” the merchant continued, producing a heavy pouch that jingled with the unmistakable sound of coins. “A hundred gold coins. Consider it a token of my gratitude.”

  Yuki accepted the pouch with a slight incline of her head. “Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice carrying a calm yet distant tone.

  The merchant, satisfied, gave her one final bow before disappearing into the throng of people, his retinue following closely behind. As the group watched him leave, Kaelen turned to Yuki, raising an eyebrow. “Looks like you made quite the impression,” he remarked, his tone light but probing.

  Yuki remained silent, slipping the book and pouch into her satchel. Her thoughts were elsewhere, focused on the faint pulse of energy she felt from the skill book. What secrets did it hold?

  The adventurers lingered only briefly, exchanging a few words before dispersing to conclude their business. Yuki, however, chose to remain near the district’s edge, her gaze sweeping over the bustling streets. This city, like the world itself, was filled with mysteries. She had no intention of staying idle for long.

  As the crowd moved around her, Yuki tightened her grip on her satchel. The legacy skill book held potential answers—or perhaps a new path forward. Either way, her journey was far from over.

  As Yuki strolled through the bustling city streets, she let her gaze wander over the chaotic yet strangely ordered flow of life around her. Merchants shouted their wares from vibrant stalls, while townsfolk haggled, ughed, and argued over prices. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the sharper tang of roasting meats and the acrid aroma of the forge. She walked with measured steps, her violet eyes scanning the crowd, her mind half-occupied by the faint pulse of the legacy skill book nestled in her satchel.

  Eventually, her steps brought her to a modest-looking inn tucked away on a quieter street. Its wooden sign, etched with the image of a crescent moon, swayed gently in the breeze. She pushed open the door, stepping into the warm, firelit interior.

  The inn was cozy, with a rustic charm. Wooden beams crisscrossed the low ceiling, and the walls were adorned with faded tapestries and hunting trophies. The common room was lively but not overly crowded. A few patrons sat at scattered tables, sharing drinks and quiet conversation. The scent of spiced stew wafted from the kitchen, and a harried-looking barmaid weaved between the tables, carrying trays den with food and drink.

  Yuki approached the front desk, where a middle-aged man with graying hair and a genial expression stood behind a worn counter. He looked up, his smile polite but weary.

  "Good evening, miss. How can I help you?"

  "How much for a room and food for a week?" Yuki asked, her voice calm and steady.

  "That’ll be fifty silvers," the man replied, gncing up at her.

  Yuki hummed softly in acknowledgment before reaching into her satchel. She withdrew three gold coins, their gleam catching the light, and pced them on the counter. "Your best room. For the week."

  The man blinked, momentarily stunned, before a broad grin spread across his face. "O-Of course, miss! I’ll have it prepared right away. It’ll take a few hours, though, so feel free to return ter."

  Yuki nodded once. "Understood." She turned and exited the inn, stepping back into the cooler evening air.

  As she wandered toward a quieter alleyway, her sharp senses caught the faint sound of footsteps trailing behind her. She sighed, her expression unchanging as she turned down the narrow passage, the dim light casting long shadows against the stone walls.

  "Come out," she said, her voice low but carrying an unmistakable edge.

  From the shadows, six figures emerged, two blocking her path ahead and four cutting off her retreat. They were ragged, their clothes worn and weapons mismatched, but the gleam in their eyes betrayed their intentions.

  "Hand over your coin," one of the men snarled, his bde glinting as he pointed it toward her.

  Another, his gaze lingering on Yuki’s slender frame, smirked darkly. "Actually," he sneered, "why don’t you strip for us too? we might as well take everything you have." His ughter echoed, joined by the cruel chuckles of his companions a lustful look crossing there faces.

  Yuki’s expression remained impassive, her glowing violet eyes locking onto the speaker. Slowly, she raised her hands towards the thieves, her fingers curling slightly. Bckened tendrils began to seep from her palm, twisting unnaturally as they coalesced into jagged void tentacles.

  Before the thieves could react, the tentacles shed out with terrifying speed, impaling them like spears. Their screams filled the alley for a brief, horrifying moment before being silenced. Blood pooled beneath their lifeless bodies as the tentacles receded back into her hand.

  "Harvest," Yuki whispered, her voice a cold murmur. A faint glow emanated from the fallen thieves as their life force was consumed.

  [System Notice: [Harvest] has harvested the Trait [Thieves Footwork] from Thief First Ascension.][System Notice: [Harvest] has harvested 87 Vigor.][System Notice: [Harvest] has harvested 64 Magic.][System Notice: [Harvest] has harvested 79 Strength.][System Notice: [Harvest] has harvested 92 Spirit.]

  Yuki stood in the aftermath, her gaze sweeping over the corpses with detached disdain. "Disgusting," she muttered under her breath. "Humanity truly is its own worst enemy."

  As she stared at the blood-soaked alley, a flicker of self-awareness pierced through her apathy. Despite her human origins, she realized how far removed she had become from her own kind. Whatever humanity had once lingered within her had been eroded, piece by piece.

  When she lost Lirien, the elf who became part of her life for a time, and when her own hand struck down Hakura, her best friend she had known all her life, the st vestiges of her humanity had died with them. What remained now was something else entirely.

  With a final gnce at the scene, Yuki turned and walked away, her footsteps silent as the alley faded into shadow behind her.